Musical Portraits

A well conceived thematic programme which made for a delightful evening from an eager, young orchestra. We were welcomed into Cadogan Hall by a group of musicians playing traditional Finnish dances in the gallery, which student Einojuhani had worked up into a thoroughly viable concert starter, which showed immediately that this was an orchestra to listen to.

Grieg's Holberg Suite may be over familiar (typical Classic FM fare) but was brought vividly to life again by the Arenskys.

The Swedish novelty was an attractive piece by Albert Schnelzer, introduced by a succinct reading from Rushdie about the enlightened and yet casually brutal Emperor Akbar. Clio Gould held the whole concert together, directing from the violin, and was immensely subtle in a Vivaldi concerto, its title referring to the same Akbar the Great.